From Shannon Whiteside
We have only lived in our new house for a few months, so it has been an exciting spring and summer as I discover the new plants that bloom in our yard. In the spring, I was pleasantly surprised that we have many lilacs trees in our backyard. Just last week, I was excited to see the purple, pink, and white blossoms from the rose of Sharon shrubs in our front yard. All of these firsts have made me eager to write them down in my Calendar of Firsts. I have not always been the most consistent to do that, but now that I live in a new place, I have a new determination to record all these surprises that nature brings. Mason said,
It is a capital plan for the children to keep a calendar––the first oak-leaf, the first tadpole, the first cowslip, the first catkin, the first ripe blackberries, where seen, and when. The next year they will know when and where to look out for their favourites, and will, every year, be in a condition to add new observations. Think of the zest and interest, the object, which such a practice will give to daily walks and little excursions. There is hardly a day when some friend may not be expected to hold a first 'At Home’ (Home Education, p. 54).
In the Naturalist’s Notebook there is a 5-year calendar to record your observations. The first 95 pages are full of tips and inspiration for keeping a nature notebook. One thing that the authors suggest is to take your data from the calendar of firsts and turn that into a timeline, table, or graph which can help you notice patterns in nature that lead to all kinds of connections between weather, plants, and animals. These authors have kept a nature notebook for decades and have this piece of advice for aspiring naturalists: “The key to becoming a proficient naturalist is developing the skills to notice details in the living world around you and then figuring out the ‘why’ behind them” (The Naturalist’s Notebook, p. 7). One of the best ways to do that is to be systematic and observe the same things throughout every season. A calendar of firsts is a great way to do that! What “firsts” have you recently noticed in your yard or neighborhood? Head over to the Hive and let us know.
Notes
1. MCT Grammar: We received word from Royal Fireworks Press (publisher of the MCT Grammar books) that they will be increasing the prices of their paperback books. It would be advisable to order soon, if you have not already done so. Here is part of their announcement:
“The price increases will go into effect as we reprint the books on the new paper, which means that prices on specific titles may go up unexpectedly. However, we’re adopting this approach to avoid setting an arbitrary price increase date and to enable you to purchase books at prices that reflect the actual cost of our production. Take advantage of the prices of your favorite titles and authors before they increase, but don’t forget that eBook prices will remain untouched.”
2. String Art Kit: We recently learned that there will be a further delay on the availability of circle string art kits. (They are now expected in September, at the earliest, instead of August.) No worries, though. The hexagon kit will work fine.
3. Narration: We are pleased to share this short video in which Shannon answers the question, “What are the foundational principles that undergird Charlotte Mason’s principles of narration?”
Queries
1. Office Hours: Our next session will be Wednesday, July 27 at 3:30 p.m. EDT. If you have questions you would like to have answered, please submit them at least 24 hours in advance by commenting on the event in The Hive.
